Bodiam Hill Climb

Originally posted by Stephen W

It was still being used in the 1970s.

Can anybody post a map showing where this hillclimb was?

Sorry, can't help it, I'm a mapoholic.

I'm working on a history of Bodiam (1955-1986):

The Motor, October 31, 1956, Page 584:
Hastings, St. Leonards and E. Sussex C.C.-
Bodiam Hill Climb, October 6. Class 1.
H.W. Loughborough; Class 2. J. A. A.
Johanson; Class 3. D. Savage; Class 4 and
B.T.D. S. Lewis-Evans; Class 5. J. Hickman;
Class 6. Dr. Murphy; Class 7. D. J. Tarrat

[A lame set of results! Lewis-Evans drove an Elva-Climax, I think Hickman drove an Elva also. No times!
Trying to crack 1955, 1956, also the black hole in the seventies. RGDS RLT.]

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 April 2020 - 20:44.

The 1964 Programme has a picture of an Elva MkIV, MBW 616, on the hill, (probably driven by Stuart Lewis-Evans). Does anybody have information on the history of this car?

According to the Elva Mk IV page at Racing Sports Cars, MBW 616 was driven in the 1958 TT by Ian Burgess and Robbie MacKenzie-Low, finishing 20^th.

Does anybody have a report of the Bodiam Hill Climb for 1963?
19 October 1963:
F.T.D. Elva Trophy replica and £15, R. Pierpoint, 28.28 sec

Moderator: On the sixties programme covers this event was known simply as Bodiam Hill Climb - can you remove the embroidery from the thread title please?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 January 2019 - 02:17.

Bodiam, Saturday, 21 October 1972, 119 entries. 

FTD Dick Noble (3.5 Hurricane Special) 26.21

Class Winners:

David Strange (850 Mini) 30.54

Alex Boyle (1.0 Lassman Cooper S) 28.11

Peter Shepherd (1.3 Mini Cooper S) 29.39

Rod Chapman (1.8 Stormont Ford Escort) 27.28

Nick Cole (1.3 Silhouette) 27.64

Bryan Saull (1.1 Cooper-JAP) 27.78

David Santer (1.6 Brabham BT21) 26.83

Chris Jones (1.3 MG TC) 31.83

Mike Day (1.3 MG Midget) 28.33

Nick Ramus (1.6 Lotus Elan) 28.76

Tony Maslen (2.2 Porsche 911S) 31.27

Bob Staples (4.2 Jaguar E-Type) 28.90

Source: Motoring News, 2 November 1972.

RGDS RLT 

Bodiam, Saturday, 23 October 1971

FTD Peter Voigt (Brabham BT15-Ford) 25.02 - new hill record

Class Winners:

Tony Barnard (850 Mini) 29.97

Alex Boyle (1.0 Cooper S) 28.96

Robert Kemp (1.3 Mini Cooper S) 27.19

Rod Chapman (1.8 Ford Escort) 27.21

Nick Cole (1.3 Silhouette) 27.23

Alex Brown (1.0 Ginetta G17) 27.26

Roger Willoughby (Brabham BT15-Ford) 25.93

Barry Grafton (4.6 Bentley Sports) 34.24

Tony Bean (1.1 MG Midget) 31.03

Terry Brown (1.4 Lenham Sprite) 29.34

Horace Appleby (2.0 Porsche) 30.88

Chris White (4.7 TVR Tuscan) 28.85

Source: Motoring News, 28 October 1971.

Peter Voigt and Roger Willoughby shared the Brabham BT15, owned by the latter, at this event.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 13 April 2019 - 02:40.

Does anybody have a report of the Bodiam Hill Climb for 1963?
19 October 1963:

RGDS RLT

The Nerus Silhouette appeared at Bodiam, a car with Sussex connections. Also later at Valence.

The car was built for the F100 Formula, a sports-racing series devised at Brands Hatch and largely a flop.

(It was hoped to replicate the outstanding success of Formula Ford, which never happened.)

F100 was named after the Firestone tyre specified in the formula, although Firestone Torino tyres were used later.

The engine was an 86 bhp BMC 'A' Series with twin SU carbs, built by Nerus of Rye, Sussex. The fibreglass bodywork was built by Marchant and Rose of Hastings, Sussex.

(M&R reportedly built the bodies for the Eagle and the BRM P126 - see Motoring News, Thursday December 10, 1970.)

The chassis was drawn by Cedric Selzer (ex-Jim Clark mechanic) for driver Nick Cole, a Nerus employee. Where was it built?

RGDS RLT

The name FF100 is source of some confusion. Not Formula Ford 100 as you might assume, but presumably Formula F100, for the car tyre.

The BMC motor in the Silhouette shows that there was not a spec engine.

RGDS RLT

I'd like to be certain that the Silhouette was a Sussex-built car. (Also the Nomad.)

There was something of a Sussex cluster with Elva, Ryetune, Nerus, Weslake, Eagle in Rye.

(Elsewhere Pringett Mistrale at Eastbourne.)

The geography of motor sport is a neglected subject.

RGDS RLT   

Motoring News, Thursday, February 26, 1970.

Address: Nerus Engineering, Drury Lane, Hastings, Sussex.

RGDS RLT

Roger,

Thanks. There is lots more to go at, for example:

Onyx F1, Thrust SSC, Ricardo-McLaren V8 etc.

Good old Sussex by the sea!

RGDS RLT

I'd like to be certain that the Silhouette was a Sussex-built car. (Also the Nomad.)

Bodiam, Saturday, 23 October 1971

FTD Peter Voigt (Brabham BT15-Ford) 25.02 - new hill record

Class Winners:

Tony Barnard (850 Mini) 29.97

Alex Boyle (1.0 Cooper S) 28.96

Robert Kemp (1.3 Mini Cooper S) 27.19

Rod Chapman (1.8 Ford Escort) 27.21

Nick Cole (1.3 Silhouette) 27.23

Alex Brown (1.0 Ginetta G17) 27.26

Roger Willoughby (Brabham BT15-Ford) 25.93

Barry Grafton (4.6 Bentley Sports) 34.24

Tony Bean (1.1 MG Midget) 31.03

Terry Brown (1.4 Lenham Sprite) 29.34

Horace Appleby (2.0 Porsche) 30.88

Chris White (4.7 TVR Tuscan) 28.85

 

Source: Motoring News, 28 October 1971.

Peter Voigt and Roger Willoughby shared the Brabham BT15, owned by the latter, at this event.

 

RGDS RLT

Fascinating as ever, Rupert. 

Sadly, I am guessing that Chris White was the guy who crashed fatally at Oulton Park in the ModSports race in the early  seventies.  Terrible accident.  They really should have stopped the race.  To see the likes of Jon Fletcher, Win Percy, John Cooper and the rest of them simply driving around the circuit and clearly not racing was quite awful.

Edited by MCS, 24 April 2019 - 20:53.

Fascinating as ever, Rupert. 

 

Sadly, I am guessing that Chris White was the guy who crashed fatally at Oulton Park in the ModSports race in the early  seventies.  Terrible accident.  They really should have stopped the race.  To see the likes of Jon Fletcher, Win Percy, John Cooper and the rest of them simply driving around the circuit and clearly not racing was quite awful.

Rob Pennington confirms: "sadly Chris White was killed while racing his Tuscan at Oulton Park. The car was later cut up by his mechanic."

Also at Valence: https://forums.autos...b/#entry8711438

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 April 2019 - 21:58.

Hastings 1066 East Sussex Car Club, 25 Oct 1969

16th Bodiam Hill Climb

FTD J. Henley, Jaguar 3,781 c.c., 31.97 sec

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 May 2019 - 13:32.

1957:

Bill Boddy, Motor Sport, Dec 1957, Page 718:

"Conolly's Buckler just beat Salkeld's Aries in the small sports-car

class. The Aries has a tubular frame, VW suspension front and

back, an Ariel Square Four 1,000 engine, fan-cooled, at the rear and

fibreglass body."

Open cars up to 1,300 c.c.: P. V. Conolly (Buckler) 38.4 sec

Aries Special, registered LPN 232.

Does anybody have an entry list for this event?

RGDS RLT  

The Nerus Silhouette appeared at Bodiam, a car with Sussex connections. Also later at Valence.

The car was built for the F100 Formula, a sports-racing series devised at Brands Hatch and largely a flop.

(It was hoped to replicate the outstanding success of Formula Ford, which never happened.)

F100 was named after the Firestone tyre specified in the formula, although Firestone Torino tyres were used later.

The engine was an 86 bhp BMC 'A' Series with twin SU carbs, built by Nerus of Rye, Sussex. The fibreglass bodywork was built by Marchant and Rose of Hastings, Sussex.

(M&R reportedly built the bodies for the Eagle and the BRM P126 - see Motoring News, Thursday December 10, 1970.)

The chassis was drawn by Cedric Selzer (ex-Jim Clark mechanic) for driver Nick Cole, a Nerus employee. Where was it built?

 

RGDS RLT

RLT, Should that be Marchant and Cox? They're actually located at Bodiam https://www.marchant...x.co.uk/contact

Edited by Paulleek, 08 October 2019 - 06:02.

Good question - sounds plausible - I am relying on the information in Motoring News from 1970 - does anybody have a connection at Marchant & Cox?

The M&C website archive includes work on the Eagle, no sign of the BRM. Something needs sorting out. Could the company have had a change of name?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 11 October 2019 - 11:36.

HASTINGS 1066 & EAST SUSSEX CAR CLUB - BODIAM HILL CLIMB - 23 SEPT 1979.

FINAL RESULTS AND AWARDS LIST.

FTD - The ELVA Trophy & Replica & £20 - Trevor Stiles, Crosslé. 25.1 sec.

Extract from Autosport:

Trevor Stiles, driving his Formula Ford

1600 Crosslé, set BTD at the Bodiam

Hillclimb in Sussex on Saturday. His

time of 25.1s was 1sec outside Doc

Willoughby's record, which stands from

last year.

Stiles beat A. Thompson's Brabham-

Holbay to BTD by a mere 0.03sec and

Barry Dutnall's 3.5-litre Brabham was

third, just 0.1sec behind. Dave West's

Caterham 7 was easily quickest of

the modsports car and was only 0.5sec

off BTD.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 14 October 2019 - 11:34.

1986 RESULTS:

FTD: 1. Richard Thompson (Mallock) 22.92 sec; 2. Alan Hall (Reynard) 25.27 sec; 3. Bob Smith (Ford Escort) 25.41 sec.

Class 1: Gerald Dale (Mini) 27.56 sec;

Class 2: Nigel Humphreys (Mini) 28.00 sec;

Class 3: David Wilson (Westfield XI) 28.97 sec;

Class 4: Brian Moody (Ginetta G12) 28.32 sec;

Class 5: John Gooch (Mallock) 25.65 sec;

Class 7: Simon Crook (Supernova) 27.52 sec;

Class 10: Steve Pattinson (VW Golf) 28.21 sec;

Class 11: Gary Baker (Ford Fiesta) 25.58 sec;

Class 12: John Sadler (Porsche) 25.56 sec;

Class 13: Donald Parker (Bentley Special) 31.12 sec;

Class 14: Alan Dix (Lotus 23B) 26.92 sec;

Class 15: Wally Pratt (Fiat Abarth) 32.00 sec.

Peter Erswell Memorial Trophy: Trevor Willard.

Leeds Building Society Trophy: Brian Moody.

I received this from Josh Sadler in January 2014:

"That’s a bit of history!  Forgotten that one.  I’d gone circuit racing by then, but I’m pretty sure the wife Sue Halkyard was there in her ’47 Allard, so I took my silver 3.2 Carrera production racer for fun.  It went well for a legal production car.  Trophies, results etc might be somewhere, but after 45 years of motorsport, everything’s got buried in boxes in various lofts etc..

I can tell you Sue’s bonnet flew open!  Wasn’t me, honest.  She survived, and got home OK."

Dr. Roger Willoughby, U2 Mk 21/24.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 February 2020 - 23:55.

Mystery solved - this has been bugging me for years:

In the book Uphill Racers by Chris Mason, Page 296, ref 1978 it states:

"Another happy event, which made up in a small way for the loss of Pontypool Park, was the first meeting for six years at Bodiam. The Hastings 1066 Club were able to come to terms with the land's new owner, the Reverend M.N. France, to use the former Guinness land although about 10 yards were lopped off the timed distance at the start."

So there were no events in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.

So, Bodiam ran 1955-1972, 1978-1986.

We still need information ref 1978, 1980 and most of all 1984. During September?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 November 2019 - 21:12.

1957:

"No one, however, could equal

Lewis-Evans 30.4 sec. — an im-

provement on his winning time

of last year of 31.2sec., which,

incidentally, meant an average

of over 44 m.p.h."

Class 4 sports racing unlimited

S. Lewis-Evans (Elva) 30.4 sec

Hastings and St Leonards Observer, Saturday 26 October 1957

We now have the long lost winning time from 6 Oct 1956.

(See post #10 this thread.)

15 Oct 1955 still missing.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 February 2020 - 19:00.

1957:

AWARDS

Elva Trophy, for fastest time of day: S. Lewis-Evans (Elva 1,098 c.c.), 30.4 secs.

John Hayles Trophy, for fastest time of the day in open classes for cars between 1,300 and 2,001 c.c.: D. L. Buss (Triumph, 1,998 c c.), 33.2 secs.

S.S.A.F.A. Cup. for fastest time of the day in closed car classes D. Jenkinson (Porsche) and A. J. Walter (Lancia 2,496 c.c.), 35 secs.

Warren Trophy, for fastest time of the day by a lady driver: Miss P. Normay (Triumph 1,991 c.c.), 37.6 secs. 

RESULTS  

Open cars (up to 1,300 c.c.) 1 D. S. Mclnerney (Fiat 1,100 c.c.), 36.8 secs; 2 P. V. Conolly, (Buckler 1,172), 38.4; 3 P. T. Salkeld (Aries 1,000), 38.8.

Open (1,301-2,000 c.c.) 1 D. L.Buss (Triumph 1.991). 33.2; 2  A. M. Greig (Morgan 1,991). 33.6; 3 G. A. A. Johanson (Triumph 1,991), 34.

Open (over 2,001 c.c.), 1 B. Savage (Austin-Healey 2,600). 36.8; 2 D. B. Theaker (Ford Zephyr 2,552), 41.8.

Unlimited sports and racing cars: 1 S. Lewis-Evans (Elva 1,098). 30.4; 2 G. A. Henrotte (Ettorne 500), 31.4; J. Bolster (Elva 1,098), 31.6.

Closed cars up 1,300 c.c.: 1 A. D. Sivyer (Volkswagen 1,192), 40.2; 2 J. Hart (Volkswagen 1,192), 41.2; 3 R. Hart (Volkswagen 1,192), 41.6.

Closed cars (1,301 c.c.-2,000 c.c.) 1 D. R. Ranson (Sunbeam Rapier 1,390). 37.8; 2 D. Milton (Modified Austin A.35 948), 38.8; 3 S. Marshall (Sunbeam Rapier 1,390), 39.2.

Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 25 October 1957

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 March 2020 - 16:48.

I hope these might be of interest. I can't be sure of the year but I think it was 1985. Quality not the best unfortunately.

Comments most welcome.

Many thanks. Ref last post see here. Is this 1986?

Allard and Westfield XI?

RGDS RLT

Many thanks. Ref last post see here. Is this 1986?

 

Allard and Westfield XI?

 

RGDS RLT

Could indeed be 1986. 

Could indeed be 1986. 

Isn't that a green Darrian at top. Can you see the reg number?

RGDS RLT

LPP 596H.

This thread started in 2007 with Flathead looking for a Buckler.

Thanks to David Montgomery we now have the following:

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 March 2020 - 12:06.

Bodiam Hill Climb, Hastings 1066 East Sussex Car Club, Saturday 21st October 1967

Results:

Elva Trophy for the best time of the day:

J.F. Barnes (Elva) B.A.R.C., 28.33 sec

Morren Trophy for the second best time of the day:

D. Beckett (Lister-Jaguar) B.A.R.C., 29.83 sec

John Hayles Trophy for fastest time of the day in classes 6,8,9,10,11,12:

N. Davidson (Morris-Mini) B.R.S.C.C., 30.86 sec

Lotus Trophy for the fastest Lotus of the day:

C.B.L. Harding, 750 Motor Club, 30.62 sec

S.S.A.F.A. Trophy, fastest time of the day in classes 1,2,3,4:

D.H. Dunhill (Morris) B.A.R.C., 30.50 sec

National Benzole Trophy, fastest time of the day class 5:

J.F. Barnes (Elva) B.A.R.C., 28.33 sec

Warren Trophy, fastest time of the day by lady driver:

Mrs. S. Boulden (Morris) Folkestone and East Kent Car Club, 34.74 sec

Smufco Trophy to member of Hastings 1066 East Sussex Car Club making fastest time of the day:    D. Santer (Takhos) 30.62 sec

Sedlescombe Tankard for most outstanding annual performance by Hastings 1066 East Sussex Car Club:

B. Hagon (Lola Cosworth) 32.75 sec

Saloons up to 950 c.c.:

1. N. Cole (Austin Mini) Hastings 1066 East Sussex Car Club, 32.87 sec

2. A.J. Barnard (Austin Mini) Hastings 1066 East Sussex Car Club, 35.10 sec

Saloons up to 1300 c.c.:

1. W.A. Cooper (Morris) B.A.R.C., 31.68 sec

2. A.C. Elwin (Morris) B.A.R.C., 31.75 sec

Cooper S's:

1. P. Clarke (Austin) B.A.R.C., 32.05 sec

2. J. Bouldon (Morris) Folkestone and East Kent Motor Club, 32.57 sec

Saloons up to 2000 c.c.:

1. D. Render (Fiat) B.A.R.C., 30.69 sec

2. R. Chapman (Lotus Cortina) Sevenoaks and District Motor Club, 31.32 sec

Saloons over 2000 c.c.: no entries.

Sports Racing unlimited:

1. J.F. Barnes (Elva) B.A.R.C., 28.33 sec

2. C.B.L. Harding, 750 Motor Club, 30.66 sec

Racing cars to 750 c.c.:

1. T.H. Fackrell (Cooper) B.A.R.C., 37.07 sec

Racing cars unlimited:

1. D. Beckett (Lister-Jaguar) B.A.R.C., 29.83 sec

2. D. Santer (Takhos) Hastings 1066 East Sussex Car Club, 30.62 sec            

1172 Formula; and Class 9—GT cars up to 1200 c.c.:

1. C.N. Ramus (Austin Healey) Hastings 1066 East Sussex Car Club,

2. D. West (M.G.) Brighton and Hove Car Club, 32.08 sec

GT cars up to 1650 c.c.:

1. M. Day (Turner) Brighton and Hove Car Club, 32.70 sec

2. Miss. J. Day (Marcos) B.A.R.C., 38.39 sec

GT cars up to 2500 c.c.:

1. J.R. Griffiths (MGB) Eastbourne and District Motor Club, 38.39 sec

GT cars over 2000 c.c.:

1. J. Henley (Tiger) Maidstone and Mid-Kent Motor Club, 33.63 sec

Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 27 October 1967   

RGDS RLT   

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 April 2020 - 14:04.

The history of the Elva Mk7 campaigned by John Barnes, 444 MBP, is documented here;

https://dobsonmotors...7-sports-racer/

Based in West Sussex, the car was fitted with a Shorrock-supercharged Ford (pre-crossflow) motor.

AFAIK the motor was sourced from Allard who had an engine shop at Bolney, Sussex.

John Barnes had earlier raced a Lotus 7 at Oddicombe in 1961:

https://forums.autos...-2#entry9040154

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 April 2020 - 20:39.

Marcos at Bodiam, 1961:

https://classicmarco...mb-14-10-61.jpg

RGDS RLT

The first Bodiam Hill Climb:

In 1955 Mackenzie Low made f.t.d, in an Elva-Ford

15 Oct 1955

Presumably Elva Mk 1, JPN 875?

This is about all that is known of this event?

Edit: FTD 31.5 secs

More to follow, see: Kent & Sussex Courier, Friday 21 October 1955, Page 3

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 04 September 2020 - 20:48.

I possibly attended this meeting, certainly some familiar names amongst the results.
R Chapman is Rod, soon to become well known for his rallycross exploits in the Stormont Ford Escort.
C N Ramus. Is Nick Ramus,later raced a Sebring Sprite and J Henley is Jack who ran a large haulage company in the south east of England.
Glyn

I'm guessing that the "D.Render" who beat Rod Chapman to 2 Litre class honours was David Render. In which case the Fiat would be his bonkers 600 with a tuned Lotus Twin Cam in the back. Depending on how stock the Lotus Cortina was it seems like a slightly unfair battle..

All hill climbs and sprints (to MSA class structure) were a highly unfair battle for "saloon" cars until comparatively recent times. The 1991 revisions introduced an element of sanity with "Modprod" but it took much, much longer for sensible "roadgoing" class regulations to appear. I know because I fed many of the bullets to one of the minority members of the then Committee to fire at the still racing car-loaded establishment.

Last time I looked there was still some way to go to achieve fairness, not least because a 1.4 turbo equivalency still applied when other main branches of the sport had long ago moved to 1.7.